Holy Sparks #5: Why Not Antarctica?

Some spots on earth are merely storage halls of Holy Sparks, until the time comes for each spark to be released.

Let's face it. If being sent to the "four corners of the earth" is to be taken literally, there are still plenty of places the Jewish people have not yet moved to, willingly or unwillingly. Not that anyone else has moved there either, but still, for Jews uncomfortable with the Middle East situation and not 100 percent secure in America (or England or France or South Africa or Argentina), the Great White North, or the Great White South, might be a last ditch option. Not to mention the Sahara Desert...

Why not? It might be far easier to weather the cold and polar bears, and avoid all the social, political and religions tensions. Maybe God has one more final exile in mind for the Jewish people, a much colder one, after which time we'll have gone to all those corners and be ready to come home, once and for all.

When God created the world, He separated out a large portion of [holy sparks] to make all that was to come into existence throughout the six days of creation. What remained after that (of the sparks from the world of Tohu), the Almighty left behind for man to rectify through his actions, throughout the generations until the arrival of Moshiach.

They were set aside and given place in all the deserts throughout the world, from where they ascend and are constantly undergoing rectification. What this means is that they are drawn from the portions of the desert to places of settlement, where they become revealed and rectified as necessary.

They represent the new and additional strength of each yield from the land, which results in straw for animals and wheat from which man makes his bread, or anything that is "quarried" from the ground. As it is written, 'For silver has a source and there is a place where they refine gold' (Job 28:1). All of it is the result of the rejuvenation which flows into the places of settlement from the places of desert. (Sefer HaKlalim, Klal 19:2)

At first reading, this sounds like a difficult concept to understand. However, as we will see, not only does it makes perfect sense, but it helps us better appreciate a miracle of life that we may otherwise take for granted.

HIDDEN SYSTEM OF LIFE

Why are there new crops every year? Why is there plenty in some years, and famine in others? Why does the ground at times produce nothing at all, let alone food that we can eat and enjoy? We may know why this occurs on a physical level, but what is the spiritual mechanism?

Holy Sparks, of course.

Like a time capsule, each Holy Spark of history has its own moment in time to be realized and used throughout the course of six millennia, before returning to its source Above. Who determines when that moment is and where it is to be used? God Himself, Who moves the sparks to wherever He wants, in order to help a person, nation, and the world to fulfill its potential and role on the stage of world history. Only God can be so precise.

God has an elaborate system for moving sparks around, so they're available when and where we need them.

God has a whole system for doing it, and right under our very noses, too. The life that we take for granted in a world that we are used to, is really a very sophisticated and elaborate system for moving sparks around, so they can be available when and where we need them.

For example, a simple wind moving north from the Sahara Desert toward a big city may be carrying dust filled with Holy Sparks, just waiting to land on the soil of some community to bring life to the ground, which in turn can bring life to animals. This in turn brings life to people who can use the Holy Sparks for a Godly purpose -- thereby expending them and sending them on their way back to the source.

Contrary to assumption, cornflakes do not grow on the shelf of the local supermarket. They grow out in a field that was nourished by Holy Sparks, without which all the irrigation in the world could not make a difference.

Similarly, what gives a vitamin its power is the sparks contained within, which are invisible to the scientist and doctor. Why else would one entity be stronger or weaker than another in terms of accomplishing a specific task?

It all comes down to the sparks inside -- the nature of a specific spark and its potential. Why one place in the world is inhabitable and why one is not depends on the sparks there, and their potential to maintain life on any level. How that particular place responds to external conditions and human activity will depend on its spiritual make-up -- that is, the sparks designated to be there.

Think of it as a spiritual gene pool. Each spark has a different potential to create, vis a vis the other sparks. Appreciating the vastness of life and its closeness to unlimited potential, is another way of appreciating the vast spiritual pool of Holy Sparks. From there we can begin to appreciate a little of the wisdom God used to make creation, and with which He continues to maintain creation every moment of the day, all throughout history.

INHABITABLE BY SPARKS, NOT MAN

However, the question we came to answer was why there are no longer any "corners" of the world where the Jewish people can go. The answer is that the deserts, whether they are frozen or made from sand, seem to be places not meant to be inhabited by humans.

Of course, if we had to, we could build some kind of enclosed city in the Arctic Circle, or in the middle of the Sahara Desert. Knowing human ingenuity, we'd figure out some way to sustain life within it.

When Adam left the Garden of Eden, he designated specific places on earth to be inhabitable.

However, such areas in the world are not "natural" human habitats, and at this late time in history it seems unlikely that they will become so. More than likely they are wastelands because God ordained them as places that man will not live en masse, so that they can remain as storage halls of Holy Sparks, until the time comes for each individual spark to be released and its potential realized.

In fact, the Talmud says that when Adam left the Garden of Eden, he designated specific places on earth that would be inhabitable (Brachot 31a).

Perhaps Holy Sparks are the reason why there are no more "corners" of the earth for the Jewish people to flee to, as they have continually done throughout their long, arduous journey toward the end of history and the Final Redemption.

DOWN TO THE WIRE

In any case, the Jews are in the final exile of history: Golut Edom -- the Exile of Edom, Eisav's descendants. It began with the Romans back at the destruction of the Second Temple, and in the 2,000 years since, we've been everywhere Edom has made his home -- whether in Europe, Russia, or America.

We've been nearly everywhere mankind has ever settled.

Now it's time to go home.

The Jewish year is 5762. According to the Zohar's calculation, with which the great kabbalist Rabbi Shlomo Elyashiv seems to concur, "Resurrection of the Dead" is destined to begin no later than 28 years from now. By that time, the Zohar also explains, all the exiled Jews remaining at the end of history will have to be gathered in, and Moshiach will have already rid the world of evil.

By this time, the sparks of history will have to already be expended and returned to their sources Above.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and it probably would take a lot longer to build a thriving community in inhospitable Antarctica. No matter how we look at it, if life for the Jewish people takes a turn for the worst, and the "Lavans" of today no longer look at us with the same smile as they did yesterday, then we need to think about whether we have perhaps exhausted the sparks.

If our work is finished, then staying around may defeat our purpose. And in the end, defeat us, too.

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About the Author

Rabbi Pinchas Winston, an Aish alumni, is the author of over 50 books on Torah philosophy, the weekly parshah sheet PERCEPTIONS, and his site Thirtysix.org. He hosts the “Ask the Rabbi” radio show for Arutz Sheva (Israel National Radio), and is in the process of translating into English "Sha’ar HaGilgulim," the Arizal’s work on reincarnation (completed chapters can be viewed at: http://shaarhagilgulim.thirtysix.org/Shaar_HaGilgulim/Introduction.html).

Visitor Comments: 5

(5)
Yehudith Shraga,
July 22, 2012 3:24 PM

The pool of Holy sparks needs some expalantion

Who determines when and ...where it( holy spark) to be used?-G-d Himself.It is a little bit difficult to navigate in the spiritual ocean, but anyway some order should be made,there is nothing to be afraid that only G-d knows when and where the holy spark is going to meet you,because G-d never gives as situations which we may not deal with.There is Devine order within the Sparks according to their difficulty of release,there are Sparks of Shoret,Alef, Bet,Gimel Ovi'ut and the most difficult-Ovi'ut Dalet which is our Antarticas,Desorts, High mountains and oceans of potential,but to release the spark from there we use a special tech. called Hakarat haRah=acknowledgement of Evil, we start with out personal inner work of course,and our incorrected parts are shown to us by the Creator according to our willingness to correct them,Schar Mitzva-Mitzva is the point=the more evil we willing to acknowledge within ourselves the more we are shown,first are shown very easy parts to our ego to ackowledge=ovi'ut Shoresh,if we progress in our spiritual work of correction we are shown the parts belonging to the ovi'ut Alef and so on. Shoresh, Alef, Bet belong to Tzimtzum Bet which is combination of Justice and Mercy,but then games turn into the grown-up life,the Ovi'ut Gimmel and especially Dalet are for supermen/women only,which were our ForFathers, ForMothers,Prophits and Sages, it's a real test of our preference of spiritual over material(here it is the place to remind that Kabbalah's notion- Body means the amount of ego the person is given,and not his meat, blood body which is the dress for his ego!).All the knowledge of the structure of the spiritual worlds is in Torah,Gemmara,Midrashim, our Sages' books which are mentioned in the article and of course the book of razi'el, the book of Creation, the book of Zohar,the books of Ar'i teachings and Baal haSulam's Talmud Esser HaSeffirot,which should be studied, and IMPLEMENTED, because we promissed to the Creator to Do and to Hear.

(4)
Dennis Gentry,
September 18, 2002 12:00 AM

WOW!!!!!!!!

I am truly finding out how little I do know, keep up the good work Aish

(3)
David L,
February 16, 2002 12:00 AM

On the Contrary

According to my knowledge, it's quite the contrary. A region with an abundance of sparks, draws the Jewish Nation towards it, for the purpose of uplifting the sparks. Whereas there are regions that are spiritual wastelands of sparks, and therefore don't warrant our noble civilization.

In addition, after God gave us the Torah, we have the ability to gather sparks from remote locations too, since the world was created with the torah, and therefore it contains the spiritual soul of every time and place.

(2)
anita vanput,
February 13, 2002 12:00 AM

intelligent,the last great adventure-thank you

it has been a long time since i found something that i can learn from i love you folks!

(1)
Menashe,
February 12, 2002 12:00 AM

My friend built a Sukkah in Antartica

Thank you for this interesting article. My good Jewish friend David spent 13 months in Antartica as a scientist for The New Zealand Antartica Foundation.
David held a Pesach Seder and Chabad in Melbourne send him Matzos grape juice and a Haggagdah. Dave also built himself a Sukkah and used the excess bamboo they place on the roads in Antartica as Kosher Zchach coverings.
The Late Rabbi YY Kazen of Chabad of Cyberspace patiently answered any queries by email that my friend had.

The Heavenly sparks must of been coming to light faster than you can say "Aurora" when Dave davened and did his Mitzvos!!!!
Who knows maybe because of Dave's Avodat Hashem and sincerity the Heavenly sparks in such a non Jewish place have already been gathered!

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I live in rural Montana where the Cholov Yisrael milk is difficult to obtain and very expensive. So I drink regular milk. What is your view on this?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Jewish law requires that there be rabbinic supervision during the milking process to ensure that the milk comes from a kosher animal. In the United States, many people rely on the Department of Agriculture's regulations and controls as sufficiently stringent to fulfill the rabbinic requirement for supervision.

Most of the major Kashrut organizations in the United States rely on this as well. You will therefore find many kosher products in America certified with a 'D' next to the kosher symbol. Such products – unless otherwise specified on the label – are not Cholov Yisrael and are assumed kosher based on the DOA's guarantee.

There are many, however, do not rely on this, and will eat only dairy products that are designated as Cholov Yisrael (literally, "Jewish milk"). This is particularly true in large Jewish communities, where Cholov Yisrael is widely available.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein wrote that under limited conditions, such as an institution which consumes a lot of milk and Cholov Yisrael is generally unavailable or especially expensive, American milk is acceptable, as the government supervision is adequate to prevent non-kosher ingredients from being added.

It should be added that the above only applies to milk itself, which is marketed as pure cow's milk. All other dairy products, such as cheeses and butter, may contain non-kosher ingredients and always require kosher certification. In addition, Rabbi Feinstein's ruling applies only in the United States, where government regulations are considered reliable. In other parts of the world, including Europe, Cholov Yisrael is a requirement.

There are additional esoteric reasons for being stringent regarding Cholov Yisrael, and because of this it is generally advisable to consume only Cholov Yisroel dairy foods.

In 1889, 800 Jews arrived in Buenos Aires, marking the birth of the modern Jewish community in Argentina. These immigrants were fleeing poverty and pogroms in Russia, and moved to Argentina because of its open door policy of immigration. By 1920, more than 150,000 Jews were living in Argentina. Juan Peron's rise to power in 1946 was an ominous sign, as he was a Nazi sympathizer with fascist leanings. Peron halted Jewish immigration to Argentina, introduced mandatory Catholic religious instruction in public schools, and allowed Argentina to become a haven for fleeing Nazis. (In 1960, Israeli agents abducted Adolf Eichmann from a Buenos Aires suburb.) Today, Argentina has the largest Jewish community in Latin America with 250,000, though terror attacks have prompted many young people to emigrate. In 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 32 people. In 1994, the Jewish community headquarters in Buenos Aires was bombed, killing 85 people. The perpetrators have never been apprehended.

Be aware of what situations and behaviors give you pleasure. When you feel excessively sad and cannot change your attitude, make a conscious effort to take some action that might alleviate your sadness.

If you anticipate feeling sad, prepare a list of things that might make you feel better. It could be talking to a specific enthusiastic individual, running, taking a walk in a quiet area, looking at pictures of family, listening to music, or reading inspiring words.

While our attitude is a major factor in sadness, lack of positive external situations and events play an important role in how we feel.

[If a criminal has been executed by hanging] his body may not remain suspended overnight ... because it is an insult to God (Deuteronomy 21:23).

Rashi explains that since man was created in the image of God, anything that disparages man is disparaging God as well.

Chilul Hashem, bringing disgrace to the Divine Name, is one of the greatest sins in the Torah. The opposite of chilul Hashem is kiddush Hashem, sanctifying the Divine Name. While this topic has several dimensions to it, there is a living kiddush Hashem which occurs when a Jew behaves in a manner that merits the respect and admiration of other people, who thereby respect the Torah of Israel.

What is chilul Hashem? One Talmudic author stated, "It is when I buy meat from the butcher and delay paying him" (Yoma 86a). To cause someone to say that a Torah scholar is anything less than scrupulous in meeting his obligations is to cause people to lose respect for the Torah.

Suppose someone offers us a business deal of questionable legality. Is the personal gain worth the possible dishonor that we bring not only upon ourselves, but on our nation? If our personal reputation is ours to handle in whatever way we please, shouldn't we handle the reputation of our nation and the God we represent with maximum care?

Jews have given so much, even their lives, for kiddush Hashem. Can we not forego a few dollars to avoid chilul Hashem?

Today I shall...

be scrupulous in all my transactions and relationships to avoid the possibility of bringing dishonor to my God and people.

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